Great progress Pat! That Gerson load bed separation panel is pretty nice looking. Does he stamp in the dimple along the top edge that provides clearance for the latches that mount to the back of the cab? From the picture, it’s hard to tell if the bulge is there or if it’s flat and the bulge needs to be added in place or before install?

Pats finishing up some grinding.. and the truck is ready to get cleaned off again… Oh, and I saw your funky green should be here next tuesday.. Thats the right rear corner, and both front door lower repair panels, inner and outer… Pats kicking it’s ass…. 😎 I’m stoked that Pat can handle anything the dirty shop throws at him….. 😎

John – Yikes! It didn’t seem to be making a bunch of noise when I was driving it around. Was that the passenger or drivers side? Can those be found to be replaced?

Pat – I can’t tell from that picture, but I found a picture of the “dimple” from a Single Cab build that was talking about (see below). Just want to make sure that it’s there before paint, so that the latch will fit in that rail without scratching things up.

John – Yikes! It didn’t seem to be making a bunch of noise when I was driving it around. Was that the passenger or drivers side? Can those be found to be replaced? Pat – I can’t tell from that picture, but I found a picture of the “dimple” from a Single Cab build that was talking about (see below). Just want to make sure that it’s there before paint, so that the latch will fit in that rail without scratching things up. Side View

Hey Pat. Here’s a link to a guy making the dimple (https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7637349). I’m not sure this is best way to do it, but it’s something. In the youtube video at 7:45, he shows how he did it. There are also pictures farther down. The thread is a pretty good read with videos, but the whole build takes hours to read thru.

Here’s another double cab build thread with a good picture of the dimple. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7637349

Cool. Thanks Cole. The BFG all terrains do have aggressive side wall…but the tread pattern is mild, no road noise. We can do regular street radial tires too if you’re worried about the look. The vintage speed exhausts are nice and quiet. I can install one no problem. You should order one and have it shipped here. We don’t have anything set-up with those guys. On the transaxle, I think we should go with the 3.44 ring and pinion with .89 4th. That should get you up to 65-70mph cruising speed.

Franz – I don’t want to order the wrong exhaust from Vintage Speed. Can you take a couple minutes and take a look at their stuff?

I think it’s the “Classic Super Flow VW Split Window Bus Exhaust System” (Part#155-706-052SF) without heat risers. It’s the one that looks like an updated version of the stock exhaust. If you can confirm that is what will work with the “baby tractor”, that would be great!

I do love the BFG, but I think the look is going to be more offroad than I want. What tire would you reco for a more stock look?

I’ll go with your reco on the gearing that works with the “baby tractor”. 70mph sounds good for an old DC.

Pat does love to start early!!!! I do too, so it works great for the dirty shop and getting shit done… I’m sure Pat will have your metal work done next week sometime… although I imagine he will work on Bo’s some too… Gonna be a one man show over here for a month or so.. Not that I have been doing all that much lately…. 😎 😎

No BFG’s… wow… I think we have put those on every bus we built since we stopped lowering everything… 😎 We went right from slammed to high as we could get em!!!! 😎 and maybe someday… we will be able to introduce a tripple RGB to the scene… 😎 Only other option I can think of bone stock bias ply’s!!!!! 😎 That sounds shitty at 70mph though… I think Coker has some radials that look old… Lets go for the OLD look then… 😎

If I am lucky… Pat will have this baby all body worked and ready to paint in about 4 weeks… 😎 😎